Born as an ant, I was summoned to ascend to immortality.

Chapter 23 Changtian Sect

As dawn breaks in the east, the distant mountains appear like dark eyebrows.

High in the sky, a cloud boat moved slowly forward. Zhou Li stood at the bow, gazing into the distance, while his ant-like body rested quietly on his shoulder.

Yupoluo came to Zhouli's side and saw the boy gazing at the sea of ​​clouds in a daze.

Nearly half a month has passed since the incident at the Tomb of the Yellow Springs, and the young master has spoken eighty percent less than before. If it were in the past, when he was riding the cloud boat and traveling through the sea of ​​clouds, he would have already leaned on the railing and composed a poem, or taken out some spiritual wine to drink.

But the young master just stood there quietly, watching.

"Young Master," Yu Poluo said, "we will arrive at the Changtian Sect's territory in half a day."

Zhou Li turned around, his movements unhurried and deliberate. In the past half month, he had become increasingly adept at controlling this body.

"Does Mother-in-law have something to say?"

"I only wish to ask one question: is the young master determined to join the Changtian Sect? Our Yuwen family is considered to be a branch of the Yuling Immortal Pavilion, and the Yuling Immortal Pavilion and the Changtian Sect have quite a few disagreements."

Zhou Li did not answer immediately.

In the past two weeks, he has repeatedly considered the road ahead.

Yuwen Zhao's identity is too sensitive. Although he is currently under the protection of Yupoluo, a Golden Core cultivator, he cannot be seen in the light of day.

He needs a new identity, a clean start.

The current cultivation world is dominated by the Imperial Court, with seven other lineages rising in tandem. Changtian Sect, as one of the seven lineages, is located in the north-central part of the Eastern Continent and has existed for ten thousand years.

The sect has three major grotto-heavens, twelve main peaks, and nearly ten thousand disciples, making it the largest cultivation sect within a radius of ten thousand miles.

My ant body is nearing the end of its lifespan, and I need to establish my foundation as quickly as possible. If I can join a sect, I can not only obtain cultivation methods, but also temporarily avoid trouble by taking advantage of the sect's influence.

"...Yes." Zhou Li finally spoke, "I have decided to join the Changtian Sect."

Yu Polu was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is it because of that girl Gu Siwei from the Changtian Sect, young master?"

Zhou Li was taken aback.

Gu Siwei, the junior sister who accompanied him in his cultivation for four years...

He suddenly realized that this was an excellent reason, a reason that suited Yuwen Zhao's character.

It would seem perfectly reasonable to anyone to hear that a young master from a noble family, who was fond of beautiful women and acted on a whim, would join a sect for the sake of a junior sister with whom he had once crossed paths.

Zhou Li lowered his eyes, neither admitting nor denying.

However, in Yupoluo's eyes, it was interpreted as tacit agreement, and the last bit of doubt in her heart finally dissipated at this moment.

The young master is still the same young master. Although he has become much calmer after this calamity, his core nature remains unchanged. As long as he is willing to cultivate, what is a little weakness like lust? Which young master of the Yuwen family throughout the generations hasn't been like that?

"I understand." Yu Poluo's voice softened. "The Changtian Sect's leader, Lian Du Zhenren, has reached the Void Realm, which is no less than that of the Yuling Immortal Pavilion. It would be a good thing if you could join the sect, young master."

She took something out of her sleeve—a palm-sized jade pendant, pure white, with the character "长" (long) engraved on the front and a landscape pattern on the back.

"Years ago, I saved the life of Xia Tianxing, the head of the Xia family." Yu Polu handed the jade token to Zhou Li. "Xia Tianxing is a grateful man. The other day, I went to the Xia family's residence in the capital and met him. He immediately wrote a letter and gave me this door pass."

Zhou Li accepted the jade tablet; it was warm and smooth to the touch, and faintly seemed to emanate a spiritual energy.

"With this gate pass, you can participate in the entrance examination of the Changtian Sect," Yupoluo explained. "But you must hurry, young master. The Changtian Sect opens its gates only once every five years, and this year's autumn examination is nearing its end. If we go now, we might still make it in time."

Zhou Li recalled the year his junior sister entered the sect—it was exactly five years ago. As he stroked the patterns on the jade pendant, he suddenly asked, "Where does Grandma intend to go?"

Yu Poluo said, "I will stay at your villa in Ningzhou, young master, and wait for you to come down the mountain." She added at the end, "Young master, rest assured, if you really encounter difficulties, just send a message. I cannot openly intervene, but I can still secretly protect you."

These words were spoken in a plain tone, but Zhou Li understood their weight.

He carefully put away the jade pendant and letter, and bowed deeply to Yupoluo: "Thank you, Grandmother."

Yu Polu stepped aside to avoid the half-bow, but her eyes were a little hot. When had the young master ever been so polite to her before? Now that the young master had experienced life and death, he really seemed to have grown up.

Half a day passed quickly, and the cloud boat passed through the sea of ​​clouds, revealing a majestic mountain range.

The highest mountain is unknown, its peak reaching straight into the clouds. A white jade staircase winds its way up from the foot of the mountain, like a ladder to heaven.

We've arrived at Changtian Sect.

The cloud boat landed on a stone-topped plaza at the mountain gate, where many young men and women had already gathered, some dressed in fine clothes and others in simple clothes and straw sandals.

As soon as Zhou Li disembarked from the cloud boat, an old man dressed in a blue Taoist robe came to greet him.

"I wondered who had such a grand entrance, but it turns out it's Fellow Daoist Yu's vehicle."

Zhou Li saw that the elder had a thin face and three long strands of beard hanging down to his chest, looking like a sect elder.

Yupoluo nodded: "Elder Tan, it's been a long time. Your cultivation has improved even more."

"You flatter me, you flatter me." Elder Tan cupped his hands in greeting, then turned his gaze to Zhou Li, "And this is...?"

"He is a relative of mine, and I hope Elder Tan will take good care of him."

Zhou Li stepped forward at the opportune moment: "Junior Zhou Li greets senior." Since he could not reveal his connection with Yuwen Zhao, he used his original name from his previous life.

Elder Tan chuckled and said, "So it's young friend Zhou. Are you here to take the grand exam?"

Zhou Li cupped his hands in greeting: "Indeed, I am late. I wonder if I have made it in time?"

"This..." Elder Tan looked troubled. "To be honest, young friend, the first two rounds of the three entrance exams have just finished. According to the sect's rules, missing even one exam is considered a forfeit, let alone missing two..."

Yu Poluo spoke up, "Elder Tan, the thunder talismans made by the Yuwen family are sold throughout Donghuang, and they have a long-standing relationship with your clan. I was busy with clan affairs before and missed the appointed time, so Zhou Li's late arrival is truly due to me. Now that he sincerely wishes to become a disciple and possesses the credentials of the Xia family of the capital, I wonder if you could make an exception and do the Yuwen family a favor?"

As she spoke, she took the jade token from Zhou Li's hand and handed it to Elder Tan.

Elder Tan took the jade tablet and examined it for a moment, then looked up at Yu Poluo, weighing his options in his mind.

With Yupoluo's Golden Core cultivation, the Yuwen family wielded considerable power, and the Xia family was even affiliated with the Changtian Sect. There was no need to be bound by sect rules; why not gain a favor from the Yuwen family?

"With the Xia family as guarantor and Fellow Daoist Yu personally delivering it..." Elder Tan pondered for a moment, then finally nodded. "Very well, I will make an exception this time and allow young friend Zhou to go straight to the third test. However, this third test is no small matter; at that time, it will depend entirely on true ability, and there will be no room for leniency."

Zhou Li solemnly replied, "This junior understands, and thanks the elder for his kindness."

Yu Polu bowed slightly as well: "Thank you for your trouble, Elder Tan. If you need anything in the future, you can come to Ningzhou to find me."

As they were talking, Elder Tan beckoned to a young Taoist priest: "Wang Jian, take young friend Zhou to the bamboo hut to settle in. Tell the steward to make sure he treats him well."

The Taoist priest named Wang Jian looked to be no more than twenty years old, and he respectfully agreed upon hearing this.

Yu Poluo glanced at Zhou Li one last time and transmitted her voice secretly: "Young master, please be careful in everything you do. If you are ever in mortal danger, crush this jade talisman, and I will know."

Zhou Li had an extra item in his sleeve. He put it away discreetly, bowed deeply to Yu Poluo, and then turned and left with Wang Jian.